Warrington confirm Daryl Powell as head coach

Warrington Wolves have announced the appointment of Daryl Powell as head coach on a three-year contract from the 2022 season onwards.

The current Castleford Tigers head coach will replace Steve Price who will return to Australia with his family following the conclusion of the 2021 season.

Powell is Super League’s longest-serving head coach having been at the helm at the Tigers since May 2013.

Following a decorated playing career which saw him represent the likes of Leeds Rhinos and Sheffield Eagles as well as Great Britain, he went on to coach Keighley Cougars, Leeds Rhinos, Leeds Tykes (RU) and Featherstone Rovers before joining Castleford in 2013.

Powell quickly made his mark that season guiding the Tigers to safety before progressing and transforming the club into a side consistently competing for honours with an attacking brand of rugby.

The 55-year-old led Castleford to the club’s first top of the table finish in their history with League Leaders’ Shield success in 2017 as well as Grand Final (2017) and Challenge Cup Final (2014) appearances. Powell was also named Super League Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2017.

Under his stewardship three players, Daryl Clark (2014), Luke Gale (2017) and Paul McShane (2020), have all been awarded the Steve Prescott Man of Steel accolade.

Powell remains fully committed in his current role as head coach of Castleford for the remainder of this campaign before beginning the next chapter of his coaching career with the Wire in 2022.

Speaking on the announcement, Daryl Powell said: “Warrington is an outstanding club with a rich history and the opportunity to coach the club from 2022 onwards is a very special one. I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“Wherever I’ve been as a coach I’ve fully embedded myself into the club and the town. I think it is really important as a coach that you do that and I’m looking forward to meeting all the Warrington fans next season.

“My coaching philosophy is to support players to achieve special things and I think everyone knows and can see what I like to do with my players and teams.

“I feel like I’m moving from one special club to another. I think it’s important to get it out in the open now so I can focus on the year ahead and there’s certainty from both sides at this stage. Hopefully there’ll be an excitement at Warrington and an excitement at Castleford that I can finish off there in a really positive way this season.”

Warrington Wolves Chairman Stuart Middleton said: “After the completion of a thorough process we believe Daryl is the best man to take the club forward in 2022 and beyond.

“His coaching philosophy and the brand of Rugby League he promotes is something that really appealed to us. The impact he has had at Castleford is very impressive, taking them from 12th to League Leaders in four years in a playing manner that was unrivalled in Super League.

“His ability to improve players was also an attraction; under his guidance he’s helped to develop three players into Men of steel. We’ve got an exciting crop of youngsters emerging so we look forward to seeing how he helps shape and develop their game.”